Wrexham skipper Dean Keates has warned against an over-reaction after the Dragons disappointing start to the season, insisting it is anything but “horrendous”.

The Dragons have picked up a meagre five points from a possible 15 so far this campaign and sit 16th in the Skrill Premier standings.

And club captain Keates, who has been forced into a watching brief as he recovers from surgery on a toe injury, says it is not time to panic.

Wrexham entertain cross-border rivals Chester tomorrow (1pm) with the pressure piling up on both sides, as the Blues are yet to pick up a point and are only off the bottom of the standings as Aldershot began the campaign on minus 10-points.

It could have been a slightly different story as 10-man Wrexham were denied a victory over Hyde last Saturday by a controversial last-minute penalty, which followed an even more dubious spot kick in the first half that gifted the Manchester outfit the chance to take the lead.

But Keates is trying to allay fans fears following the Dragons’ opening as he said: “It has not been a great start, but to be fair is has not been a horrendous start either.

“We haven’t got as many points as we would have liked, but I don’t think anybody in the division has started the way they would have expected to. It is very much the case as it has been for the last few years and this year is the same, a lot of points are being dropped by all teams and a lot of teams are in with a shot of top spot and also the play-offs, but it is still really early in the season.

“We can only worry about ourselves and our position, but if you look at the whole league all the clubs are dropping points.

“Going into Saturday’s game it is a big occasion for both clubs, obviously we’ve not picked up as many points as we would have wanted, and obviously Chester have not picked up any points, so this game could be a big turning point in the season and all being well it will be for us.

“It is an important game for the fans because it is a derby match, and it is an important game for the lads, because it is another game, and they will go into it looking for the three points, like they would every game.”

Keates, who was struggling with the injury at the back end of last season, was forced to undergo the knife ahead of pre-season.

And while the skipper is unsure about a timescale for his return, he admits it has been a frustrating time in the stands, and missing the start to the campaign.

He added: “I’ve been jogging since the weekend, and have another appointment with the specialist this Wednesday, but I’m not sure when I can get back playing yet, hopefully as soon as possible. I’ve been doing a lot more running in a bid to get my fitness back up and fit back in, but I haven’t been given a timescale.

“Hopefully it isn’t too long, I had the operation not long ago, and it has settled down and I’ve had the physio on it and now I am well into the rehab side of it. Hopefully I can get kicking the ball soon.

“I’m not a good spectator, it’s frustrating that the lads are playing and I am sat in the stands, and I have missed the whole of pre-season so it has been really frustrating, but there isn’t much I can do about it.

“It needed doing, I wish I could have got it done at the end of last season, but the injury hadn’t happened then, so this was the best course of action and hopefully now I have had the operation and it is taken care of and now I can move forward.”